The 1 Stock I'd Buy Before SPDR Gold Shares Right Now

By Marc Guberti – Feb 15, 2026 at 4:00PM ESTKey PointsGold and silver are both stores of value that minimize the risk of economic uncertainty and act as inflation hedges.Silver is riskier but can produce higher returns to gold due to its industrial applications.Silver is an important precious metal for multiple high-growth industries, such as artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, and medical devices.We’re bullish on these 10 stocks ›NYSEMKT: SLViShares Silver TrustToday's Changeangle-down(2.94%) $1.99Current Price$69.72Price as of February 13, 2026 at 4:00 PM ETThe SPDR Gold Trust has enjoyed a strong run, but silver has more going for it due to its industrial applications.The SPDR Gold Trust (GLD +2.49%) offers a simple premise: get direct exposure to the price of gold. If gold goes up by 1%, this fund also goes up by 1%. It doesn't contain any gold mining companies that can introduce unpredictable returns relative to gold prices. This fund has been an excellent performer as more people accumulate gold as an inflation hedge that also offers some protection from economic uncertainty. This ETF is up by more than 70% over the past year and has almost tripled over the past five years. However, the iShares Silver Trust (SLV +2.94%) looks like the better pick, especially after a sharp correction. Silver has more use cases than gold Image source: Getty Images. Gold gets most of its value from being a store of value for financial purposes, and while it has some industrial applications, silver simply blows it away in that regard. Silver's unique properties make it the most electrically and thermally conductive metal, making it the metal of choice for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, electronics, medical devices, the 5G buildout, and other industrial applications. ExpandNYSEMKT: SLViShares Silver TrustToday's Change(2.94%) $1.99Current Price$69.72Key Data PointsDay's Range$68.86 - $71.3252wk Range$26.57 - $109.83Volume70M Many of these industries are gaining momentum, which will boost demand for silver. Grandview Research anticipates the artificial intelligence market having a 30.6% CAGR from now until 2033, and the 5G market is projected to maintain a 13.1% CAGR during that same time frame.

Fortune Business Insights believes the medical devices industry will have a 6.9% CAGR from now until 2034. As each of these industries grows, silver is poised for price rallies that will be reflected in the iShares Silver Trust. This fund offers direct exposure to silver rather than mining companies that dig it up. Silver has the same protections as gold Although gold has a stronger reputation as a store of value, silver serves the same purpose. You can hold silver as a unit of value that acts as an inflation hedge. The precious metal is also bound to gain value during periods of economic uncertainty. Silver has less correlation to the stock market than the average asset, but there is still some correlation since it has many industrial applications. That's one of its key distinctions from gold, but the broad protections remain the same. At this time, the industrial applications of silver are serving as major tailwinds. Companies need silver to create various products and services, and it is critical for the AI buildout. There are smaller, lesser-known metals, like antimony and palladium, that are also valuable for the AI buildout. Silver is less risky than those options while offering a higher potential upside than gold during a bullish economic cycle.Read NextJan 22, 2026 •By William DahlWhy Silver Will Outperform Gold in 2026Dec 31, 2025 •By Matthew BenjaminDoes the Sell-Off in Silver This Week Make It an Even Better Investment for 2026?Oct 23, 2025 •By William DahlWhy Buffett Derides Gold But Likes SilverFeb 1, 2021 •By Howard SmithWhy Silver Stocks Are Shining TodayFeb 1, 2021 •By Rich DupreyIs Silver the Next GameStop?Aug 8, 2020 •By Dan Caplinger3 Silver Stocks You Should Know About in a Precious Metals Bull MarketAbout the AuthorMarc Guberti is a Certified Personal Finance Counselor and has been a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst since 2025. He has written for several finance publications. Marc graduated from Fordham University with a finance degree. He is an avid marathon runner who aims to complete more than 100 marathons in his lifetime. His fastest marathon time is 2:40.TMFmarcgubertiStocks MentionediShares Silver TrustNYSEMKT: SLV$69.72 (+2.94%) $+1.99SPDR Gold SharesNYSEMKT: GLD$462.62 (+2.49%) $+11.23*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.